Smaller advance = better looking sales record?

[jfrankel]

Hi Nathan,

I was just wondering: If and author get an offer, is it ever smart to ask for a smaller advance so that their end sales record looks a bit punchier (really just in that they will have a higher likelihood of earning out)?

Just been wondering on this one...

Thanks!
Jordan

[Nathan Bransford]

Hi Nathan,

I was just wondering: If and author get an offer, is it ever smart to ask for a smaller advance so that their end sales record looks a bit punchier (really just in that they will have a higher likelihood of earning out)?

Just been wondering on this one...

Thanks!
Jordan

People don't generally (or ever) request a smaller advance because with a big advance comes a higher likelihood of an investment by the publisher in promotion (the theory being that they will spend the money to try to ear back their investment). Big advances can definitely be a double-edge sword if the book doesn't perform to everyone's inflated expectations, but just about every author takes the bird in the hand.